From Therapeutic Factors to Mechanisms of Change in the Creative Arts Therapies

In this global webinar, we will share the findings of a scoping review on change factors in creative arts therapies, which is published recently on 'Frontiers​ in Psychology', and discuss how these findings can positively influence the development of both CATs' theory, research, and practice, as well as training and education in the international community. This team came together as part of a strategic plan to build capacity in our global research community for creative arts therapies and the larger arts and health conversation. The problem we identified illuminated that while the creative arts therapies have demonstrated a rapid growth of empirical studies over the last decades, and the findings of these studies substantiate that CATs have positive impact on a range of outcomes, it remains unexplored how and why CATs account for these effects. To gain more insight into why and how CATs impact outcomes, it is important to pinpoint which therapeutic features of CATs are unique and essential (specific factors) and which features are generic (common factors). To provide an overview of the assumed change factors or mechanisms of change and to gain more insight into how or why CATs may lead to psychological and physiological outcomes, the presenters/authors of this global webinar conducted a scoping review (De Witte et al., 2021). Our scoping review identifies the therapeutic factors and mechanisms of change reported in the literature. Our review clarifies key concepts and definitions and synthesizes the available evidence. We aimed to gain greater insight into why and how the creative arts therapies impact outcomes, and to pinpoint which therapeutic features of creative arts therapies are unique and essential and which are generic and/or not essential. Out of 4,591 articles, we identified 68 studies that focused on the change process and mechanisms focusing solely on psychological wellbeing outcomes. We coded for common factors (common with psychotherapy factors), specific factors (unique to each specialization) and joint factors (overlapping with creative arts therapies). An inductive approach to data analysis was applied to allow findings to emerge from the frequent, dominant, or significant themes inherent in raw data. Nineteen domains of creative arts therapies change factors were identified including "embodiment," "concretization," and "symbolism and metaphors." Our research findings amplify the need for CAT–specific change process research and bring forth a conversation on how our global professional understanding of change processes is evolving.

• Getting familiar with the sequence of Intervention – Change Factor – Outcomes.
• Awareness and understanding of specific intervention components / characteristics: how can they influence outcomes?
• How can knowledge on change factors / mechanisms of change, positively influence the (further) development of CATs practice, training program and research?

Time Zone: EST New York

7 AM - 7:05 AM Introductions

7:05 AM - 7:15 AM Topic 1: Define change process research (the 3 types of change factors)

7:15 AM - 7:25 AM Topic 2: CAT focus: What are the challenges in process / change factors research for CAT? Qual + ABR and Quant tensions

7:25 AM - 7:35 AM Topic 3: CAT focus: What do the findings suggest about unique factors in CAT? Eg: the identified19 domains, unique factors to CAT

7:35 AM - 7:45 AM Topic 4: Specific factors focus in AT and DT

7:45 AM - 7:55 AM Topic 5: Specific Factors focus in DMT and MT

7:55 AM - 8:15 AM Topic 6: The interrelatedness of specializations across and within CAT; Practice and political implications

8:15 AM - 8:30 AM How can we advance process research in CAT? Address including bibliotherapy and poetry therapy here. How do we get organized and build capacity? Influence practice? How will audience members integrate our findings into practice?